New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-16

Every Democrat present. voted against The
bill Now let us face the truth. If this bill fails
it will have been killed by corruption. That Is
the truth. and that truth cannot lie disguised
or concealed. Rogues arc often shallow They
think il possible to hoodwink the public always
because it can be done sometimes. But in such
cases as this there is no possibility Of deccp-
ton. Whether the bill is killed by dividing
the votes which should have passed it whether
the prctence is made Of preference for another
measure introduced as a diversion whether
members conveniently absent themselves at the
critical moment in short, whatever tricks and
devices may be rcsortcd to, the people will
none the less know that the corruption fund OF
the rumsellers is the real cause Of tho action
taken. and that the Republicans who fail to vote
for the High-Licensc bill have certainly
deserted their party, and most OF them
presumably been bought. There Is no
room for sincere difference Of opinion
on the merits of rival bills now. The Crosby
bill is the only one which means temperance
reform: the only one the rumscllcrs are fight
ing; the only one members can get money for
voting against the only one which is The tar
get for every weapon The worst enemies of the
community can ply.
This being the case. it is best that there
should be no illusions on either side. 1t must
be plainly understood that treachery in this
instance cannot and viii not be smoothcd over
and condoned. There Is no conceivable method
by which tho public Of New-Iork can be per-
suaded to change their conviction as TO the
meaning of the opposition to the High-Liccnse
bill That conviction will lie. in the event Of
the bills defeat as firmly fixed as in the case
Of the Aldermen who took brides TO hand over
the Broadway Railroad charter. There never
was any doubt as TO the corruption OF the
boodle' Aldermen and IL there are to he
doodle members of the Legislature the fact
will be as thoroughly understood. 1t is. OF
course possible that such corruption can be
perpctrated without leaving traces tangible
enough TO give Justice hold upon the parties !;
though even the most cunning rascals some
times get caught, as several recent prosecutions
in this city have shown. But in any case the
yenality will be notorious, and the men who are
believed by the people TO be guilty will be
scorcbcd with brand which viii distinguish
them from honest citizens as conspcuouSly as
the striped uniform worn by TIC convictS at
Sing Sing.
III Is not n Ntnlh OHtUCc bNhO -
and it viii not lie forgiven. The abuse OF rum
selling has become iitolerabe. The expenses,
burdens, suTerngs, entailcd upon the commu-
nity by The drunkard- makers arc 10 longer to be
horne with any patience. The people have at
last risen against ibis curse and disgrace and
have demanded that it lie checked There Is
no fanaticism in the legislation proposed 1t is
check to the evil and no more. Open OF
undcrhand opposition will be marked and right
ly interpreted. 1t is for members themselves
10 decide whether "thc game is worth the
candle,'' but at least they shall not have it to
say, if they take the wrong course, that they
did not understand the situation. Or that they
were not fully acquainted with the direction
of public opinion. There may he money in tho
defeat of the High License bill but we assure
the Legislature that there is also involved q
slaughter of regulations and an extinction OF
political careers to risk which ought TO call ioi
very large expenditures indeed.